Poem 18 — 100 Days of Poetry
About the Poem:
Aware by D.H. Lawrence is a short, evocative poem that describes a moment of sudden emotional realization. The speaker, watching the moon rise, is struck by the beauty of a woman he didn’t know he loved until that very moment. The poem speaks to the intensity of unrecognized emotions and the sudden awareness of love that can feel both wonderful and painful at once.
D.H. Lawrence (1885–1930) was an English novelist and poet, known for his deep exploration of human relationships and emotional experiences. His works often blur the line between the external world of nature and the internal world of emotion, as seen in Aware.
Aware — D.H. Lawrence
Slowly the moon is rising out of the ruddy haze,
Divesting herself of her golden shift, and so
Emerging white and exquisite; and I in amaze
See in the sky before me, a woman I did not know
I loved, but there she goes and her beauty hurts my heart;
I follow her down the night, begging her not to depart.
My Reflections on the Poem:
Aware captures that surprising and powerful moment when someone realizes a hidden love. While recording this poem, I was struck by Lawrence’s ability to convey such intense emotion in just a few lines. The imagery of the moon rising and the speaker’s awe and pain really resonate, reminding us how love can often take us by surprise.
This post is part of my 100 Days of Poetry series, where I embarked on a journey to record and share 100 poems over 100 days in 2017. Although the series was interrupted, I’m delighted to continue sharing these timeless works with you.
